Acts 13:2

Acts 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
• New International Version (NIV)While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
• New King James Version (NKJV)As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Context of Acts 13:2

1Now there were in the Assembly that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 13:2 word by word

λειτουργούντων δὲ αὐτῶν τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ νηστευόντων εἶπεν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον· ἀφορίσατε δή μοι τὸν Βαρναβᾶν καὶ Σαῦλον εἰς τὸ ἔργον ὃ προσκέκλημαι αὐτούς.Read the interlinear

• Asδέde · thenG1161
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ministeredλειτουργέωleitourgeō · to ministerG3008
• to the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• fastedνηστεύωnēsteuō · to fastG3522
• the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Separateἀφορίζωaphorizō · to separateG873
• ·δήdē · soG1211
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ·τεte · and/bothG5037
• BarnabasΒαρνάβαςBarnabas · BarnabasG921
• SaulΣαῦλοςSaulos · SaulG4569
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the workἔργονergon · workG2041
• whereuntoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• I have calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341

Cross-references for Acts 13:2

• Acts 6:4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
• Deuteronomy 10:8At that time Yhwh separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Yhwh, to stand before Yhwh to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
• 1 Samuel 2:11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Yhwh before Eli the priest.
• 1 Chronicles 16:4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yhwh, and to record, and to thank and praise Yhwh God of Israel:
• Romans 15:16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
• Colossians 4:17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
• 2 Timothy 1:11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
• 2 Timothy 4:5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
• Acts 13:3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
• Acts 10:30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
• Daniel 9:3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
• Matthew 6:16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
• Matthew 9:14Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
• Luke 2:37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
• 1 Corinthians 7:5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
• 2 Corinthians 6:5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Commentaries on Acts 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted - On Mondays and Thursdays it was usual with the more pious Jews to attend the public service in their synagogues, and to fast: the former is what we are to understand by ministering to the Lord. On the Sabbaths they attended the service in the synagogue, but did not fast. The Greek word, , signifies performing the office of praying, supplicating, rendering thanks, etc.: hence the word , liturgy, the work of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2As they ministered to the Lord - It is probable that this took place on some day set apart for fasting and prayer. The expression “ministered to the Lord” means as they were engaged in prayer to the Lord, or as they were engaged in divine service. The Syriac thus renders the passage. The Holy Ghost said - Evidently by direct revelation. Separate me - Set apart to me, or for my service. It does not mean to ordain, but simply to designate, or appoint to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3prophets and teachers: these leaders of the church at Antioch spent a lot of time in worship and prayer. They had an intense desire to do the Lord's will, and they fasted to spiritually prepare themselves to receive guidance from God. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The church set apart Barnabas and Saul, recognizing God's clear call for them to do a special work in his name. The inner journey these Christians took to pray and listen to God…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. As they ministered to the Lord--The word denotes the performance of official duties of any kind, and was used to express the priestly functions under the Old Testament. Here it signifies the corresponding ministrations of the Christian Church. and fasted--As this was done in other cases on special occasions (Ac 13:3, 14, 23), it is not improbable that they had been led to expect some such prophetic announcement at this time. the Holy Ghost…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 13:2

• Call
• Fasting
• Gentiles
• Holy Spirit
• Minister, Christian
• Missions
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Barnabas
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Holy Ghost
• Call
• Light
• Lo
• Ordain
• Prophet
• Season

Commentaries on Acts 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings